Unraveling the Origins of Itch: Harvard Study Reveals Surprising Findings

New research published in the journal Cell has identified a previously unknown factor that triggers itchiness in skin conditions like eczema. Scientists from Harvard Medical School discovered that the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus can directly activate nerve cells, causing itchiness even in the absence of inflammation. The bacterium releases an enzyme called V8, which activates a protein called PAR1 on nerve cells in the skin, sending a signal to the brain that prompts scratching. The study offers a potential new direction for developing treatments for eczema, which affects around 10% of people in the U.S. and is strongly associated with allergies.